The Toxic Chemicals in Your Soap
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Ingredient Evaluation
Today we are going to take a look at the ingredients that are found in one of the most popular bar soaps that we see being sold today. Our goal here is not to scare you, but to educate you on what those long confusing words actually mean that are on the labels of many products that we buy today.
The Ingredients in Irish Spring
Soap (Sodium Tallowate, Sodium Cocoate, and/or Sodium Palm Kernelate); Water; Hydrogenated Tallow Acid (Skin Conditioner); Coconut Acid; Glycerin (Skin Conditioner);Fragrance; Sodium Chloride; Pentasodium Pentetate; Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate;Titanium Dioxide; D&C Green No. 8; FD&C Green …
Now for the Breakdown & Meaning
Sodium Tallowate: This little ingredient is made by combining fatty tissue or tallow from animals such as cattle and sheep.
Sodium Cocoate: This is a fatty acid salt that combines coconut oil with sodium hydroxide, which is used as an emulsifying agent. This ingredient can cause skin irritation in those who have highly sensitive skin.
Hydrogenated Tallow Acid (Skin Conditioner): This is a tallow fatty acid also known as HTFA that is derived from animal sources such as rendered beef. This ingredient is used as a skin conditioner.
Pentasodium Pentetate: This ingredient is a compound that binds metals, also known as chelatings that can be harmful to the skin if used in excess
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate: This ingredient is used as a stabilizer so that the soap does not react to air and light. Without this ingredient, traditional soaps would have a very short shelf life if exposed to certain air and light elements
As a Result
As a result of these harsh chemicals we are seeing more and more people start to turn toward using organic soap. Organic and cruelty-free soap uses oils that are all-natural and free from any animal by-products, as well as uses only distilled natural water and not tap water that has minerals that can be harmful and drying to the skin. Natural soaps do not need highly toxic chemicals to be used as emulsifiers. As a result, organic soap is a healthier option over traditional soaps.